Friday, July 3, 2009

Transformers 2 - Revenge of the Fallen

The battle for Earth has ended but the battle for the transformers universe has just begun. After returning to Cybertron, Starscream assumes command of the Decepticons, and has decided to return to Earth with force. The Autobots believing that peace was possible finds out that Megatron's dead body has been stolen from the US Military by Skorpinox and revives him using his own spark. Now Megatron is back seeking revenge and with Starscream and more Decepticon reinforcements on the way, the Autobots with reinforcements of their own, may have more to deal with then meets the eye.

Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) finds something about the origins of the Transformers and their history on Earth after receiving visions from a remaining piece of the Allspark The evil Decepticons need to capture him for information.

The climactic battle takes place at the Giza pyramid complex, where a temple is located within. Lorenzo di Bonaventura explained the motion-picture will start before the pyramids were built, tying the Transformers to the beginning of civilization, and implying that "all our heroes end up here because of the Decepticons' master plan." Furthermore, Egyptian hieroglyphs resembling helicopters and other present day vehicles in real life will be explained in the motion-picture as being depictions of those Ancient Cybertronians who visited Earth. Bay explained the battle at Mission City did not expose the Transformers to the public. "Everybody has gone ahead. It's realistic. Two weeks after the tsunami nobody talked about it anymore. It's very weird. We decided to do the same with the Transformers.

The government talks about a military thing, says all is false, that it's a joke, and people don't know what they really saw." Orci cited the Phoenix Lights incident as an inspiration for how the Transformers manage to stay covert after the previous motion-picture, and added it was an interesting idea for how would the government "hide Optimus Prime". The human soldiers have joined the Autobots' ranks in a team called NEST (Networked Elements: Supporters and Transformers). A government front called McClaren Robotics covers up the robot sightings, and they have an Allspark shard kept in storage in NEST headquarters, in Diego Garcia.

THE FILM

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is an previewing science-fiction action adventure motion picture due for release on June 19, 2009 in the United Kingdom, and June 24, 2009 in the United States. It is the sequel to 2007's Transformers, which was the first live action Transformers motion picture. Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg return respectively as director and executive producer, while Shia LaBeouf reprises the role of Sam Witwicky, the human caught in the war between Autobots and Decepticons. The motion picture introduces many more robots and the scope has been expanded to numerous countries, the most important of which is Egypt.

The main challenge in getting the motion picture completed was overcoming the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, as well as possible strikes by the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild. Bay finished his production on time with the help of previsualization and a scriptment by his writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and series newcomer Ehren Kruger. Motion-pictureing from May to November 2008 predominantly took place in the United States, including the majority of scenes set in outside countries, a minimum of which was conducted in those actual nations.

Transformers Autobots - Revenge of the Fallen

OPTIMUS PRIME

Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), the Autobot leader. He retains his alternate mode of a blue Peterbilt truck with red flame decals. Cullen recorded a voiceover for the opening scene in August 2008, but began the majority of voice work in November. A live action cameo has been written for Cullen.

BUMBLEBEE

Bumblebee (Mark Ryan), the Autobot who befriended Sam and disguises himself as his fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. Ryan also continued his role as stand-in for the robots on set. Bumblebee's voice is still healing and he still uses radio soundbites to express some of his emotions. Sam cannot take him to college as they do not allow freshmen to have cars on campus, and he'll also be forced to leave the Witwickys' garage due to an incident that resulted in Bumblebee wrecking their house.

The filmmakers used the Super Sport version of the 2010 Camaro rather than the concept version. Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design, said the redesigned car emphasized Bumblebee as becoming stronger after having his severed legs reattached in the first film: the new intakes and spoilers show he is a sturdier character.

IRON HIDE

Ironhide (Jess Harnell), the Autobot weapons specialist who transforms into a GMC Topkick. His right eye has a large scar surrounding it. Before arriving on Earth, he sustained a broken ankle. According to the tech specifications of his toy, he was built during the Battle of Tyger Pax and is one of the oldest Autobots. His weapons include laser cannons mounted on each forearm with missiles connected around the outside of the right forearm laser cannon. Despite his advanced age and extra bulk, Ironhide revealed himself to be extremely agile and formidable opponent - He managed to helix twist over a screaming civilian at high speed while firing both wrist mounted weapons, and was seen engaging and withstanding assaults from both Devastator and Starscream.

RATCHET

Ratchet (Robert Foxworth), the Autobot medic who transforms into a search and rescue Hummer H2. His weapons include a rotary saw that emerges from his left arm, and can transform his right arm into a machine gun. Ratchet also has an assortment of other tools at his disposal; in the movie, he uses a red laser to scan and try to calibrate Bumblebee's voicebox as they are introduced to Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes. He has enhanced senses, as he reveals Sam's desire to "mate" with Mikaela by sensing his pheromone levels by using his nose. According to the book Transformers - Meet The Autobots by Jennifer Frantz, Ratchet has X-ray vision. According to the Transformers U.K. magazine Ratchet can produce a "chameleon" effect with his surface photo-electric cells allowing him to blend with his environment.

JETFIRE

Jetfire (John Turturro), a former Decepticon who transforms into a SR-71 Blackbird. His wounds and age have made him choose to become an Autobot.He can combine with Optimus, as they did in the Transformers: Armada series, which provides Optimus with the ability to fly. The writers wanted a geriatric robot, and during scripting they gave Jetfire that personality.He creaks, does not transform well, and is said to be running out of Energon. Also, he walks with a cane, which doubles as a battle axe. In the movie, he is found in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center by Agent Simmons and Sam, who break into the museum at night and reactivate him by using the AllSpark shard. Turturro offered to voice the character because he thought it would be a fun part.

ARCEE

Arcee, a female combiner made up of three separate robots that transform into motorcycles. According to the novelization, the robots that make up Arcee share a single consciousness. For her toys, however, each individual bike was given a character and personality. Arcee, who initially transformed from a single bike, was dropped from the first film due to concerns of her being too small compared to the other bots and the fact that the writers felt there was not enough time to explain her "gender", despite her and several other female Transformers appearing in the first film's toy line and tie-in comics. Whether to explain robotic gender or not was something the writers were unsure about, and it remained undecided until post-production. The motorcycle vehicle modes for Arcee were provided by custom sportsbike builder retroSBK.

A pink motorcycle, named Arcee in the toy line.

A blue motorcycle, named Chromia in the toy line. In the 1980s cartoon, Chromia was Ironhide's girlfriend, something reflected by the film version's toy biography, which states Chromia was "friends with Ironhide for centuries, and their reunion on Earth was one of the high points of the war for both of them. Now they work side by side, hunting and destroying Decepticons. Neither of them has ever been happier."

A purple motorcycle.

Mudflap and Skids

Also known as the Twins, these Autobot infiltrators transform respectively into a red Chevrolet Trax and green Chevrolet Beat. Mudflap is very hyperactive, while Skids believes himself to be the smarter of the two and tries to come across as mature, but nevertheless appears unable to keep quiet. Bay compared the message of the bumbling but heroic characters to the story The Little Engine That Could.He chose the Beat and Trax for the Autobot twins because he thought those two small cars looked good together.Ed Welburn added when they had designed the cars before Bay selected them, the "character" they wanted to bring to the concepts was a sense that small cars could be as cool as large ones. The Twins have the ability to combine. They start the film by combining into a pink and white ice cream van, and at some point they combine to form a bigger robot.

SIDESWIPE

Sideswipe, a silver Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept. He is an expert fighter with his swords and tries to get in close with his opponents. According to the writers in panel at Botcon Sideswipe was originally scripted to be a Lamborghini like his Generation 1 counterpart, but Bay had his choice of cars and went with the Stingray.

JOLT

Jolt is a blue Chevrolet Volt.Being an electric car, Jolt's weapons are a pair of electric whips.He was a last-minute addition to the cast as General Motors, the film's car supplier, wanted to promote the Volt.The writers had already wanted to include the car in the script before the Writers Guild strike, so they had to work out a character that would fit well within the Autobot team afterwards and convince Bay to approve the addition.Welburn was pleased the Volt's character was christened Jolt by the filmmakers, as it reflected that car's design "character".

WHEELIE

Wheelie, a blue radio-controlled toy monster truck. Wheelie initially serves the Decepticons, but because he is frightened of them he joins the Autobots.

Transformers DECEPTICONS - Revenge of the Fallen

MEGATRON, the Decepticon leader – voiced by Hugo Weaving.

Killed and thrown into the Laurentian Abyss in the first film, he is resurrected by the Constructicons with dead robots' parts as a Cybertronian tank (although some sources claim he is now a Triple Changer, retaining his jet mode and adding the tank mode). He has become stronger as a result of absorbing the Allspark fragments that originally killed him. When reviving the character, the writers chose not to rename him Salvation so as to not confuse the general audience.

STARSCREAM, the air commander

Charlie Adler voices Starscream, the air commander who transforms into an F-22 Raptor. He flew into space at the end of the previous film, and now returns bearing Cybertronian symbols on his body and commanding a new Decepticon army. Orci confirmed he will have more dialogue. Chris Mowry, writer of the comic book prequels, stated Starscream differs from his 1980s incarnation because "His motivations are more for the species. He's definitely at odds with what Prime and Megatron have been doing. He thinks that they've both been consumed with greed, for their own selfish reasons, but as he finds out, his plans start to fall through as he’s kind of becoming overwhelmed with the same greed that they had. However, Orci explained that during post-production, dialogue additions edged Starscream closer towards his 1980s counterpart.

SOUNDWAVE, Megatron's intelligence officer.

Frank Welker voices Soundwave, Megatron's intelligence officer. He transforms into a Cybertronian craft with jet and satellite capabilities. The concept artists also designed an Earth form of a Chevrolet Silverado for him to upgrade into, which Orci stated was dropped. In the 1980s toy-line Soundwave's alternate mode was a micro-cassette player. The filmmakers had tried to work him into the first film twice, and these roles eventually evolved into Blackout and Frenzy. The latter character was particularly thought to be too different from the original. Welker voiced Soundwave in the original cartoon.

RAVAGE

Ravage, a minion that resembles a large one-eyed jaguar that transforms into a missile. Ravage is sent to Earth by Soundwave to steal a shard of the Allspark from a NEST base. This shard is used to bring Megatron back online. Ravage later appears in Egypt where he hunts down Sam Witwicky. He is damaged in battle with the Autobot Bumblebee.

According to an interview with producer Tom DeSanto published in issue #15 of the Transformers Collectors Club Magazine the original lineup pitched for the Decepticons in the live action Transformers film was Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Ravage, Laserbeak, Rumble, Skywarp and Shockwave.

Grindor and Scorponok

Grindor and Scorponok, an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter and his scorpion-like minion. After Lennox killed Blackout in the first film, Scorponok hid in the desert, repaired his tail, and is now teaming up with a new character who is virtually a clone of his previous partner.BLACKOUT

Blackout. Despite having been killed in the first movie and not being mentioned in any of the printed adaptations of the movie, the writers have suggested Blackout to be back.

The FALLEN

The Fallen, one of the original thirteen Transformers, is the one who corrupted Megatron into forming the Decepticons. He is trapped in another dimension and was able to communicate with the Decepticons via an interdimensional window. He is capable of opening Space Bridges. It was the Fallen's face, distorted by this window, that inspired the image the Decepticons would use as their insignia.Lorenzo di Bonaventura compared the Fallen to Judas Iscariot.He transforms into a Cybertronian aircraft.The writers selected the Fallen after looking through various cartoons and comics for new characters, because he was the most "elemental" villain. Orci and Kurtzman approached Leonard Nimoy, who they had collaborated with on the Star Trek movie, about voicing the part. Nimoy voiced Galvatron in 1986's The Transformers: The Movie and is also married to Bay's aunt Susan. Orci said Welker might take on the role due to "fan outcry". Bay was apprehensive about approaching Nimoy as "I just feel kind of bad about asking him. Like 'I can't pay you that much, but would you do this voice?'"During a press conference for Star Trek, Nimoy answered that the director should "Call me!" He also said he had heard that Bay was afraid to get a hold of him "for some reason", but he would gladly be a part of Transformers again.

DEVASTATOR/ The CONSTRUCTICONS

The Constructicons / Devastator, a 46 feet (14 m) tall (hunched over) massive robot formed by several combining construction vehicles, who walks in a four-legged fashion resembling a gorilla. He is physically unable to stand upright, but would be 100 feet (30 m) to 120 feet (37 m) tall if he did. His jaws can open up to form some sort of suction vortex, and he seems to have grappling hooks he is seen using to climb a pyramid. In the first film, the name "Devastator" was mistakenly given to Brawl, a tank. In the theatrical trailer for the movie, Long Haul, Mixmaster, and two unidentified Constructicons are seen heading down to the bottom of the ocean in hunt of Megatron's corpse, ultimately reactivating their fallen leader.

Scavenger,

Hightower,

transforms into a yellow Kobelco CK2500 crawler crane and forms the left arm.

Long Haul,

a green Caterpillar 773B dump truck, which forms the right leg. Long Haul's individual robot mode was designed by freelance artist Josh Nizzi as fan art of the original character. The fan art impressed Bay enough to hire him on to the film.

Mixmaster,

who transforms into a black and silver Mack concrete mixer truck. He forms the head.

Rampage,

a yellow Caterpillar D9 bulldozer who forms the left leg.

Scrapper,

a yellow Caterpillar 992G scoop loader who forms the right arm.

Overload,

a red articulated dump truck that also forms Devastator's torso.

DEMOLISHER

Demolishor, a red Terex O&K RH 400 hydraulic mining excavator;He seems to be almost identical to Scavenger in both robot and alt modes, having only coloring differences. Demolishor is the protector of a small Decepticon community in Shanghai. He is the one seen running through the overpass in the trailers. During production, the film writers simply called him "Wheelbot", and he is referred to as "Demolisher" in the film novel.

SIDEWAYS

Sideways, a silver Audi R8 hiding with Demolishor in Shanghai, China until he is discovered by the Autobots. Sideways is shown diving through a building and alleyway in Shanghai, China. He is chased by Arcee. Evading the Autobot sisters he is eventually chased by Sideswipe. After being cornered by the four Autobots and a team of N.E.S.T. soldiers, Sideways fires pulse blasts in an attempt to escape, but is stabbed through the neck by Sideswipe in mid-air.

EJECTOR

Ejector, a small pyromaniac robot who turns into a toaster, brought to life by an Allspark fragment in Sam's kitchen. Ejector appeared, unnamed, in Mountain Dew commercials for the 2007 Transformers film.

SCALPEL

Scalpel, a small, spider-like robot who turns into a microscope. He is a medic and scientist equipped with tools he is seen using to torture Sam. The other Decepticons call him "the Doctor". The packaging of his Scout-Class figure details he is skilled in dissecting and rebuilding almost any living organism.

The PRETENDER

Alice, a Pretender (Isabel Lucas) who stalks Sam. Her character's form is based on an animatronic Alice in Wonderland figure and her cover is blown by Leo.

There will be other minor robots, including Insecticons, some robots who can transform into weapons and some cooking appliances brought to life by the AllSpark shard, including the toaster bot from the Mountain Dew tie-in advert for the first film. Tony Todd has also noted on his official website that he will be voicing a character in the movie, although it is still unknown who it will be. Bay revealed Tom Kenny will be voicing a character and Tarah Paige was said to play a key role also.